Cartilage regeneration using improved surface electrospun bilayer polycaprolactone scaffolds loaded with transforming growth factor-beta 3 and rabbit muscle-derived stem cells

Abstract — Editorial summary

This cartilage-engineering study investigated electrospun bilayer polycaprolactone scaffolds treated with ozone and loaded with TGFβ3 and rabbit muscle-derived stem cells. Ozone treatment improved the scaffold environment for chondrogenic differentiation, with greater collagen-II production after twenty-one days in culture. At three and six months in the animal experiments, cell-treated scaffolds generally performed better than scaffolds without cells in macroscopic, histological and electromechanical assessments. The results suggest that surface treatment, growth factor delivery and cell seeding can work together to improve cartilage repair. Further validation is required before translating this preclinical approach to patients.

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